“I am honored to be able to serve as a board member and look forward to helping the American Heart Association lead the fight to save lives from cardiovascular diseases and stroke,” Kirklin said.

During the upcoming year, Kirklin’s leadership will help the organization combat heart disease – the leading killer of American men and women, as well as stroke – the fourth leading killer.

The board will help the association achieve its 2020 impact goal to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. The board’s responsibilities include:

Controlling and managing the affairs, funds and property of the AHA’s Birmingham organization

Approving the final annual budget and other fiscal matters for the affiliate

Approving all operational policies

Delegating the implementation of operational policy

Kirklin has been affiliated with the AHA’s Birmingham organization for almost 20 years, serving most recently on the Open Your Heart committee for the 2013 Birmingham Heart Ball.

Kirklin was instrumental in the formation of the national Cardiac Transplant Research Database and the multi-institutional Pediatric Heart Transplant Study, both of which are headquartered at UAB. Kirklin is internationally known for his expertise in cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplants, congenital heart disease and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement therapy.